Another woman was given my cancer diagnosis and had unnecessary surgery’

One of two women who had their breast biopsies swapped in a shocking BreastScreen Queensland bungle has told of her devastation after being given a false all-clear.

Narelle Schirmer at Lammermoor earlier this month.

A Queensland woman wrongly given the all clear from cancer after her breast biopsy results were mistakenly swapped with another patient says the mix-up has been torture.

But Narelle Schirmer says she feels sorry for the total stranger who was handed her cancer diagnosis because it was her “burden to bear”.

The Yeppoon woman is one of two BreastScreen Queensland patients who had their breast biopsies swapped, leading to Narelle wrongly being told she did not have cancer while the other was mistakenly told she had a malignancy that led to unnecessary surgery.

The biopsies were taken on November 7 last year and Narelle was only informed of the blunder a couple of weeks ago. She finally had her tumour removed on Tuesday – after a four-month delay.

The shock biopsy error, exposed by The Courier-Mail, sparked a government investigation into the handling of samples at Pathology Queensland, which processes BreastScreen Queensland’s pathology.

Narelle Schirmer was mistakenly given the all-clear after her breast biopsy result was swapped with another patient.

“I was totally oblivious to cancer as I was living my life carefree when I got the all clear. It is always a relief to get that information. I am an advocate for screening and early detection.

“But that calmness was blown up when the real diagnosis was delivered. I went from calm to manic – or at least that is how my friends described me. Any peace of mind was lost. I am a strong person and deal with things well but this shook me,” Narelle said.

“I would give anything to meet that poor woman who was told she had cancer when she didn’t. We must have crossed paths as we waited at BreastScreen in Rockhampton for tests. I probably spoke with her as I am a talker.

The blunder has sparked an investigation into how samples from BreastScreen Queensland are handled. File picture

“We were two strangers who would end up connected in the most awful way. I was told that only four biopsies were sent to Pathology Queensland in Brisbane on November 7,” the Yeppoon woman told The Courier-Mail.

“The staff at BreastScreen were very thorough with the labelling of the biopsies. I must have checked the labels a dozen times. I have full faith in the staff there,” the 63-year-old said.

The singer and music teacher said she feared the delay in intervention could have led to the spread of the cancer but her surgery this week showed the tumour was contained and was successfully removed.

Narelle told The Courier-Mail that the surgeons at Rockhampton Hospital were “amazing” and made her feel at ease.

“Health Minister Tim Nicholls has been ‘piss poor’. He didn’t call me. What if this happened to his wife, daughter or any female family member? The government is putting health workers in untenable positions. There is not enough staff to ensure this won’t happen again. I would imagine it is human error due to an excessive workload,” Narelle said.

Narelle praised the work of surgeons at Rockhampton Hospital. Picture: Google

Mr Nicholls responded to the mix up with “unfortunately in this circumstance a serious error has occurred and I extend my heartfelt condolences to the women and their families.

“Urgent work is now under way to determine why this error has occurred and to identify what solutions can be put in place to reduce the risk of this happening again”.

Narelle reports that the head of BreastScreen Queensland had checked in on her several times.

The Central Queensland woman said that she attended the mobile BreastScreen Queensland van in Yeppoon for her regular mammogram.

She was called back to the clinic in Rockhampton days later for further investigation as the scans showed something suspicious.

“So November 7, my 63rd birthday, was the fateful day I went for another mammogram, ultrasound and then a biopsy. I was a bit anxious but not overly worried as I thought it was just to double check things. After a few days I was given the all clear and went back to life,” she said.

Health Minister Tim Nicholls in state parliament. Picture: Steve Pohlner

But that peaceful life exploded a couple of weeks ago when Narelle received a call from BreastScreen asking her to come back to the clinic for a blood test to confirm she could be matched with her biopsy.

“They put it all out on the table. I could see by their faces they were concerned and they were very nice. They told me about the other patient having surgery where they found no cancer and that raised a red flag. I knew that minute the cancer was mine. I was floored.

“But at night I do think – what if the surgeon who operated on the other lady had not realised something was wrong? Would I ever have found out? Would that cancer just be left inside of me until I have my next mammogram in two years time? But I have to be grateful it has come to light and try to live life,” she said.

Originally published as Another woman was given my cancer diagnosis and had unnecessary surgery’